Gasteria Plant Guide: How to Propagate Gasteria

Gasteria (Gasteria spp.) is a perennial succulent that is part of the Asphodelaceae family. It has hard, dark green, tongue-shaped pointy succulent leaves (like aloe or haworthia leaves) that are sometimes covered in wart-like spots known as tubercles which also come in variegated varieties. This non-toxic perennial can occasionally sprout nectar-filled tubular flowers in colors like orange, pink, or green, though young plants will not bloom until they are mature.

Gasteria derives its name from the Latin word “gaster,” which means “stomach.” The drought-tolerant plant has a slow growth habit and prefers warm weather and dry conditions.

There are sixteen different varieties of gasteria, each with its own unique characteristics. Here are some of the most common:

1. 1. Knoppies gasteria (Gasteria batesiana): Knoppies gasteria has mottled, pointy leaves and blooms small, orange-pink flowers and can somewhat tolerate below-freezing temperatures. ‘Little Warty,’ which sprouts thick leaves covered in warts, is a popular cultivar of this species.
2. 2. Bredasdorp gasteria (Gasteria carinata): Bredasdorp gasteria, also known as the keeled ox tongue and formerly called Gasteria verrucosa, is a stemless succulent with large, dark-green leaves that can grow up to eight inches with a diameter of over two feet.
3. 3. Namaqua gasteria (Gasteria pillansii): Namaqua gasteria, commonly called the cattle tongue or cow tongue cactus, is a succulent with strap-shaped, distichous leaves that grow in two separate rows.
4. 4. Kouga gasteria (Gasteria glomerata): Kouga gasteria has distichous, two-inch strap-shaped leaves and eventually sprouts small, pinkish-orange flowers. This type of gasteria prefers light shade and only grows to about four inches with a foot-wide spread.
5. 5. Lawyer’s tongue (Gasteria bicolor): Lawyer’s tongue, also referred to as gasteria obliqua and gasteria maculata, is a spring-flowering variety that grows dark-green, white-spotted distichous leaves. Mature plants feature leaves that grow in rosette-like whorls.
6. 6. Great Karoo ox-tongue (Gasteria disticha): Great Karoo ox-tongue has wavy green leaves featuring spotty, white patterns. Its leaves can grow up to seven inches in length and two inches in diameter. Great Karoo ox-tongue sprouts small, reddish-pink flowers that appear in the spring.
7. 7. Dune gasteria (Gasteria acinacifolia): Dune gasteria is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa and primarily grows in coastal climates. It has scimitar-shaped leaves, which are wide and smooth then pointed at the tip. It reaches heights of over two feet, making it the tallest-growing species of gasteria.

Spring is the best time to plant gasteria succulents outdoors, though you can plant them year-round as houseplants. If you’re growing them outdoors, gasteria plants will thrive best in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11. Keep in mind that they are slow growers and frost-tender. Plant gasteria indoors if winter temperatures in your area fall below fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

Though you can plant gasteria from seed or leaf cuttings, the most reliable method is through offsets, commonly called “pups.” These look like tiny succulents that grow around the adult plant and are the quickest way to establish your own healthy succulent plants. Follow this guide for easy gasteria propagation:

1. 1. Remove the pups. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut away the small succulent plant pups from the mother plant. Cut right at the base of the stem beneath the rosettes.
2. 2. Dry the pups. Once you’ve removed the pups, let them dry on a paper towel in bright, indirect light for a few days until they grow a callus at the cutting spot.
3. 3. Plant the roots. Place the plants in a container filled with cactus and succulent potting mix that has large drainage holes. Bury the roots so that the pup sits on top of the soil.
4. 4. Mist the soil. Mist the potting soil at the time of planting and every time you notice that the soil is dry.

Gasteria plants are low-maintenance and require minimal care. Here are some basic plant care tips to help your specimen thrive:

1. 1. Plant in a shallow container. Gasteria has shallow roots, which means your container should be wider in diameter but not very deep. Some gardeners plant their gasteria in terra cotta pots which helps the water to evaporate quicker, reducing the risk of root rot.
2. 2. Check for pests and diseases. Gasteria is prone to root mealybugs or fungal infections if they get too much moisture (through overwatering or humidity), the latter of which will look like black spots on your leaves. Move your plants to a drier location or use a fungicidal soap to manage infections. Avoid wetting the leaves of your gasteria and focus on moistening the soil when watering it to help prevent the risk of fungal infections and pests.
3. 3. Provide bright light. Gasteria loves the warmth of sunlight but will suffer if it gets too much bright, direct sunlight. Keep your gasteria in an area with bright, indirect light. Some species may also tolerate low light conditions. If you live in a warm enough climate, keep your gasterias out of the full sun and in an area that receives partial shade.
4. 4. Fertilize annually. Apply your fertilizer to damp soil once every spring to keep your gasteria nourished once a year. Mix your fertilizer with a bit of compost for the best result.

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